2. Data Domain Boost can now work with Fibre Channel-connected source systems as well as Ethernet ones. Boost is the technique Data Domain uses of having a backup media server do preliminary deduplication work, so Data Domain's data ingest rate is faster.

4. Dell NetVault Backup gets Boost support for the first time, with EMC saying it makes NetVault backup 50 per cent faster.

5. EMC is claiming a threefold increase in archive data ingest speeds using Data Domain. The details of this claim are somewhat sketchy. It also says more than 16 archiving apps now work with Data Domain, including the AXS-One Central Archive, EMC's own SourceOne and Documentum products, IBM InfoSphere Optim and Symantec's Enterprise Vault.

The SourceOne Discovery Manager has been given faster performance, a new GUI, support for more content types, and better auditing and reporting.

EMC says it has one system for all archiving needs, though we doubt archiving market leaders like CommVault will agree with the sentiment.

Archive thoughts

El Reg thinks you can't keep endlessly archiving data. It's constantly growing and, unless you end up deleting as much older stuff as the new stuff you put in, you will run out of space, money, or possibly both. Archive data will migrate to the cloud and/or tape, and likely get tiered based on data access rates.

For example, we could end up with a near-line archive on disk, a mid-line archive for cold data that needs fast retrieval on TLC flash, and an off-line archive on tape. Plus, maybe, an archiving software layer (SourceOne for example) that masks this underlying complexity.

Archiving is currently in limbo, and until archive content storage is full to bursting, the impetus for change won't be that strong. There isn't enough archival pain being felt by organisations with digital archives yet. Look to the Active Archive Alliance when your archival pain rises above your tolerance threshold. ®